CFCC Campus Development plan moves forward

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — You can hear the crews at work in Downtown Wilmington. All this construction part of CFCC’s Campus Development plan, a project paid for by bond money voters approved in 2008.

The Union Station parking deck is coming together, and should be open in September. Then the focus shifts to the performing arts center CFCC says will serve the college and the community.

“There’ll be an orchestra pit in there, multiple balconies, so we can host not only college events but performance events for the entire community to use,” CFCC spokesman David Hardin said. “We hope that it’s going to be a new addition to downtown that will bring in more people to make a more vibrant downtown as well as the college, too.”

The ground breaking for this $40 million, 100,000 square foot facility, including a 1,500-seat auditorium, will be late this year or at the start of the new year. It will sit on third street next to the new parking garage.

The arts community has expressed a need for venues like this one, but will it fulfill that need?

Thalian Hall director Tony Rivenbark says the center will be great for CFCC, but he is not sure how it will work when it comes to the general public’s need.

“Whether that addresses the ultimate needs in this community for performing arts, I think, is up for much debate,” Rivenbark said. “But there are people in this community who feel 1,500 seats is not a large enough facility, and that it should be designed specifically to be a performing arts venue for the community rather than a facility for a college or university. I think there are two different kinds of things.”

CFCC says the performing arts center is scheduled to be finished by late 2013.